Northwest Natural Gas (NWN)
NYSE:NWN
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Northwest Gas
(NYSE:NWN)
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Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:
$51.00
▼(-5.63% Downside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:06/05/26
NWN’s score is held back primarily by weak cash-flow quality (consistently negative free cash flow) and elevated leverage, despite generally stable utility profitability. Offsetting factors include constructive guidance and growth/regulatory progress highlighted on the earnings call, plus a reasonable valuation and attractive dividend yield, while technical indicators suggest near-term bearish momentum.
Positive Factors
Regulatory rate-base and authorized ROE
Favorable regulatory outcomes and rate-base increases provide durable revenue recovery mechanics and an allowed return that supports earned returns on invested capital. Multi-jurisdiction settlements and filings reduce cash-flow volatility and underpin long-term earnings through steady rate-base expansion.
Negative Factors
Persistently negative free cash flow
Consistent negative free cash flow forces ongoing external financing to fund capex and dividends, raising dependency on debt/equity markets. Weak cash conversion reduces internal flexibility, elevates refinancing and liquidity risk across a multi-year capex cycle and limits reinvestment capacity.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Regulatory rate-base and authorized ROE
Favorable regulatory outcomes and rate-base increases provide durable revenue recovery mechanics and an allowed return that supports earned returns on invested capital. Multi-jurisdiction settlements and filings reduce cash-flow volatility and underpin long-term earnings through steady rate-base expansion.
Read all positive factors
Northwest Gas Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Any
Operating Income by Segment
Shows profitability across different business areas, highlighting which segments drive earnings and where there might be challenges or opportunities.
Shows profitability across different business areas, highlighting which segments drive earnings and where there might be challenges or opportunities.
Data provided by:
The Fly
The FlyNorthwest Gas (NWN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$2.06B
Dividend Yield4.18%
Average Volume (3M)293.34K
Price to Earnings (P/E)16.3
Beta (1Y)0.18
Revenue Growth5.90%
EPS Growth16.54%
CountryUS
Employees1,452
SectorUtilities
Sector Strength65
IndustryRegulated Gas
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)2.99
Shares Outstanding42,080,353
10 Day Avg. Volume300,133
30 Day Avg. Volume293,344
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio0.46
Price to Book (P/B)1.29
Price to Sales (P/S)1.48
P/FCF Ratio-9.66
Enterprise Value/Market Cap2.28
Enterprise Value/Revenue3.66
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit8.66
Enterprise Value/Ebitda9.72
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$56.50Price Target Upside4.55% Upside
Rating ConsensusHold
Number of Analyst Covering5
EPS Forecast (FY)3.05
Revenue Forecast (FY)$1.40B
Northwest Gas Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) operates primarily through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, delivering regulated natural gas to a diverse clientele including residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation customers a...
How the Company Makes Money
NWN primarily makes money through its regulated natural gas utility operations. Revenue is generated by delivering natural gas to end customers and billing them under rates (tariffs) approved by state utility regulators. Customer bills generally i...
Northwest Gas Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:May 06, 2026
(Q1-2026)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jul 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call portrayed a predominantly positive operational and financial tone: strong customer growth at C Energy, progress on multiple regulatory fronts (Washington settlement, Texas filing), MX3 development upside, reaffirmed guidance, and a balanced funding plan underpin confidence. Headwinds are largely timing- and investment-related—higher depreciation and financing needs, regulatory timing uncertainty (particularly in Oregon), and seasonal/near-term margin pressure in water. On balance the highlights (growth metrics, regulatory wins, MX3 optionality, liquidity) outweigh the lowlights (timing, near-term costs), supporting constructive confidence in the company’s outlook.Positive Updates
Reaffirmed 2026 Guidance and Solid Start
Company reaffirmed full-year 2026 EPS guidance of $2.95 to $3.15 and reported adjusted EPS of $2.33 in Q1 2026, up $0.05 (+2.2%) versus $2.28 in prior-year period, with adjusted net income up $5.7 million.
Negative Updates
Regulatory Timing and Uncertainty in Oregon
Multiyear rate case rulemaking in Oregon could slip into 2027, creating uncertainty around the timing of rate relief; Fair Act constraints and regulatory cadence may cause rate base growth to outpace recognized earnings, producing potential 'catch-up' risk later in the planning horizon.
Read all updates
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive
Negative
Reaffirmed 2026 Guidance and Solid Start
Company reaffirmed full-year 2026 EPS guidance of $2.95 to $3.15 and reported adjusted EPS of $2.33 in Q1 2026, up $0.05 (+2.2%) versus $2.28 in prior-year period, with adjusted net income up $5.7 million.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Management reaffirmed full‑year 2026 EPS guidance of $2.95–$3.15 and maintained long‑term EPS growth guidance of 4%–6% (expected to increase to 5%–7% upon MX3 notice to proceed); Q1 adjusted EPS was $2.33 (vs. $2.28), adjusted net income rose $5.7M and EPS was +$0.05 for the quarter. They expect 2026 capex of $500M–$550M funded by ~ $150M net long‑term debt and $40M–$50M equity from the ATM, with ≈$590M liquidity; C Energy delivered 16% organic customer growth, >250k meter backlog, expects 15%–20% annual customer growth through 2030 and to contribute ~10%–15% of consolidated EPS, is seeking a $12M revenue increase with a 10.75% ROE (cost of capital 8.73%, rate base up $176.9M to $343.1M); Northwest Natural Water grew customers 4.1% (2.2% organic), has >10k connection backlog (≈25% under development), expects 2%–3% organic growth through 2030 and to contribute ~10%–15% of EPS; combined C Energy and Water are expected to drive ~25% of consolidated EPS in 2026. Additional regulatory metrics include a Washington settlement adding $20.1M (yr1), $7.7M (yr2), $8.7M (yr3) starting 8/1/2026 with a 50/50 capital structure and 9.5% ROE, an Oregon ARM contemplating a 1.5% rate increase 10/31/2026, and the MX3 storage project ($300M, 4–5 Bcf, 25‑yr contracts) targeting NTP by 2027 and in‑service in 2029 (not yet included in current guidance).Northwest Gas Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
58
Neutral
Balance Sheet
52
Neutral
Cash Flow
34
Negative
| Breakdown | TTM | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 1.29B | 1.29B | 1.15B | 1.20B | 1.04B | 860.40M |
| Gross Profit | 543.21M | 510.06M | 397.61M | 423.87M | 341.23M | 329.12M |
| EBITDA | 484.06M | 470.56M | 348.09M | 344.49M | 303.37M | 264.09M |
| Net Income | 122.89M | 113.32M | 78.87M | 93.87M | 86.30M | 78.67M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 6.42B | 6.24B | 5.23B | 4.87B | 4.75B | 4.06B |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 37.66M | 41.08M | 38.49M | 32.92M | 29.27M | 18.56M |
| Total Debt | 2.68B | 2.76B | 1.96B | 1.75B | 1.68B | 1.52B |
| Total Liabilities | 4.84B | 4.76B | 3.85B | 3.58B | 3.57B | 3.13B |
| Stockholders Equity | 1.58B | 1.48B | 1.39B | 1.28B | 1.18B | 935.15M |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | -272.72M | -197.77M | -194.12M | -47.40M | -190.93M | -133.54M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 205.64M | 269.12M | 200.28M | 279.95M | 147.67M | 160.35M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -549.98M | -808.90M | -428.99M | -335.50M | -435.46M | -300.12M |
| Financing Cash Flow | 277.73M | 532.87M | 227.06M | 64.21M | 301.63M | 131.44M |
Northwest Gas Technical Analysis
Negative
54.04
Price Trends
50.91
Negative
50.70
Negative
47.71
Positive
Market Momentum
-0.35
Negative
45.06
Neutral
29.97
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NWN, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 54.04 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 49.28, above the 50-day MA of 50.91, and above the 200-day MA of 47.71, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.35 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 45.06 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 29.97 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for NWN.
Northwest Gas Risk Analysis
Northwest Gas disclosed 35 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Northwest Gas reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks
Northwest Gas Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
67 Neutral | $2.89B | 19.41 | 9.49% | 2.15% | 17.14% | 15.65% | |
66 Neutral | $4.82B | 17.66 | 8.20% | 3.45% | 2.81% | 7.01% | |
66 Neutral | $17.65B | 18.10 | 5.60% | 3.62% | 6.62% | 11.55% | |
62 Neutral | $4.55B | 12.69 | 10.45% | 3.82% | 4.53% | 40.51% | |
58 Neutral | $6.40B | 13.80 | 11.86% | 3.07% | -48.15% | 105.44% | |
57 Neutral | $2.06B | 16.30 | 8.27% | 4.18% | 5.90% | 16.54% | |
57 Neutral | $3.00B | 97.40 | 4.27% | ― | 18.67% | 3110.38% |
* Utilities Sector Average
NWN
Northwest Gas
49.02
11.06
29.12%
CPK
Chesapeake Utilities
120.60
2.94
2.50%
SR
Spire
77.05
7.03
10.04%
SWX
Southwest Gas
88.48
16.79
23.42%
OGS
ONE Gas
76.76
7.05
10.11%
CTRI
Centuri Holdings, Inc.
29.77
9.34
45.72%
Northwest Gas Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Northwest Gas Raises Senior Notes to Refinance Debt
Positive
Jun 5, 2026
On June 4, 2026, Northwest Natural Holding Company raised $50 million through the issuance of 5.35% Series E senior notes due 2031 and agreed to sell an additional $70 million of Series F and Series G senior notes maturing in 2031 and 2036, respec...
Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Northwest Gas Shareholders Reaffirm Board, Pay and Auditor
Positive
Jun 1, 2026
At its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 28, 2026, Northwest Natural Holding Company shareholders elected three Class III directors—David H. Anderson, Peter J. Bragdon, and Nathan I. Partain—to serve on the board until the 202...
Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Northwest Gas Reaches Washington Rate Case Settlement Agreement
Positive
Mar 24, 2026
On March 23, 2026, Northwest Natural Gas Company and most parties to its Washington general rate case filed a settlement with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission that would set smaller phased-in rate increases than originally re...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.